Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has revealed that guard Ayo Dosunmu will be back in action for the first time in weeks for a Wednesday tilt against the Hawks, per K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link).
Per Johnson, Dosunmu will be playing under a minutes restriction, and will suit up for no more than 24-to-26 minutes of game action.
Dosunmu hasn’t played since December 23 due to a calf injury. Johnson had reported earlier this week that a Dosunmu comeback Wednesday was possible.
The 25-year-old Illinois alum is one of his hometown Bulls’ better two-way options at guard. In 30 healthy contests, including 17 starts, the 6’5″ pro is averaging 12.6 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 0.8 steals a night. He’s posting shooting splits of .490/.320/.796.
Wednesday’s Atlanta matchup is the second game in a back-to-back slate of games. On Tuesday, Chicago fell 119-113 to one of the league’s worst teams by record, the 9-32 Pelicans. That dropped the No. 10-seeded Bulls to a middling 18-22 record on the season.
In that game, veteran guard Lonzo Ball had a big night. He scored 11 points, pulled down eight rebounds, and dished out six dimes in 25 minutes off the bench for Chicago. Johnson notes that Ball, still working his way back from three meniscus surgeries, will miss the Hawks contest as Chicago continues to monitor him.
The Bulls need to trade Lavine, Vucevic and Ball already so the young guys can take over